Mesh type air vent apparatus for vehicle

ABSTRACT

A mesh type air vent apparatus for a vehicle includes a duct including an open inlet and an open outlet, a mesh cover including a plurality of mesh holes communicating with the outlet of the duct, a wind direction adjusting wing provided in the duct and configured to laterally adjust a wind direction, air dampers disposed on upper and lower ends of the wind direction adjusting wing in the duct to selectively open or close gaps between the outlet of the duct and upper and lower ends of the mesh cover, and a link part which individually moves the air dampers in the duct in forward and backward directions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC § 119(a) of KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2021-0007079, filed on Jan. 18, 2021 in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mesh type air vent apparatus for avehicle.

2. Discussion of Related Art

In the recent vehicle market, many efforts to slim a structure of an airvent are being made in order to apply a next generation slim cockpitdesign, and as part of the efforts, various attempts are being made inconsideration of design and function.

Particularly, in the next generation cockpit design, since it is notpreferred for a wing of the air vent, which is still used the most, tobe exposed to the outside, providing a knob, with which a wind directionof the wing may be adjusted manually, has also become virtuallyunnecessary.

Even without considering the design, there are many cases in which winddirectly comes into contact with a passenger's body and causesinconvenience when a wing type air vent, whose wind direction isdirectly adjusted by a user, is used. Although there was a precedent inwhich a mesh type product with a plurality of holes formed to avoid thedirect wind was released, in the structure in which the wind simplyflows through mesh holes, since some problems, in that air resistanceincreases and there is no wind orientation, may be caused, it wasdifficult to satisfy a user's need to manipulate the wind.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to providing a mesh type air ventapparatus for a vehicle, in which a mesh cover is applied to a frontportion (duct outlet side) of an air vent to reduce a surroundingpressure so as to adjust a wind direction of windless (indirect) windand which induces the occurrence of a Coanda effect using a skin surfaceto satisfy the needs of manipulating the wind direction of a user andallows a product upgrading strategy to be established.

In addition, the present invention is directed to providing a technologyof adjusting opening and closing of a gap between an outlet of a ductand a mesh cover using an air damper operating in conjunction with alink joint structure so that indirect wind flows in a direction desiredby a user.

Objectives to be achieved by the present invention are not limited tothe above-described objectives, and other objectives, which are notdescribed above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the artfrom the following descriptions.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a mesh type air ventapparatus includes a duct including an inlet and an outlet, a mesh coverincluding a plurality of mesh holes communicating with the outlet of theduct, a wind direction adjusting wing provided in the duct andconfigured to laterally adjust a wind direction, air dampers which aredisposed on upper and lower ends of the wind direction adjusting wing inthe duct and selectively open or close gaps between the outlet of theduct and upper and lower ends of the mesh cover, and a link part whichmoves the air dampers in the duct in forward and backward directions.

The upper and lower ends of the mesh cover may be spaced apart from theoutlet of the duct to allow air introduced through the inlet of the ductto flow along a garnish extending from the outlet of the duct in upwardand downward directions and to be discharged through the outlet.

The link part may include an upper arm connected to the air damperdisposed on the upper end of the wind direction adjusting wing, a lowerarm connected to the air damper disposed on the lower end of the winddirection adjusting wing, a connecting rod disposed between andconnected to the upper arm and the lower arm, and link pins whichconnect an end portion of the upper arm, an end portion of the lowerarm, and end portions of the connecting rod which are in contact witheach other.

The connecting rod may include a link joint structure divided into aplurality of rods.

One end of the connecting rod may be fixed to the other end of the upperarm, and the other end of the connecting rod may be fixed to one end ofthe lower arm.

The upper arm and the lower arm may be provided with the connecting rodinterposed therebetween and may be perpendicular to the connecting rodin different directions.

The link pins connected to the upper arm and the lower arm may bemovable in link holes disposed in the upper and lower ends of the winddirection adjusting wing in the forward and backward directions. Themesh holes of the mesh cover may be disposed in a circular or diagonalshape in a mesh plate of the mesh cover.

The mesh type air vent apparatus may be configured to be disposed insidea dashboard in a vehicle, and configured to receive air from an airconditioner of the vehicle through the inlet and to discharge the airinto the vehicle through the outlet.

The mesh cover may include a material the same as a material of agarnish of a board, which is adjacent to the outlet of the duct, in thevehicle.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda mesh type air vent apparatus for a vehicle including a duct includingan inlet and an outlet, a mesh cover communicating with the outlet ofthe duct, a wind direction adjusting wing provided in the duct andconfigured to laterally adjust a wind direction, air dampers disposed onupper and lower ends of the wind direction adjusting wing in the duct,and a driving actuator configured to move the air dampers in the duct inforward and backward directions.

The air dampers may be disposed above and under the wind directionadjusting wing and may selectively open or close gaps between the ductand the mesh cover to guide air introduced through the inlet of the ductin one direction toward an upper or lower end of the mesh cover.

The air damper may include an upper damper positioned at an upper end inthe duct and a lower damper positioned at a lower end in the duct,wherein a connecting link divided by a rotation shaft may be providedbetween the upper damper and the lower damper.

The connecting link may include an upper connecting bar hinge-connectedto the upper damper and a lower connecting bar hinge-connected to thelower damper.

In this case, the upper connecting bar and the lower connecting bar maybe hinge-connected by the rotation shaft, and the rotation shaft may berotatably fixed to a designated section in the duct.

The inlet may be configured to communicate with an air conditioner of avehicle and the outlet may be configured to direct the air into thevehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart by describing exemplary embodiments thereof in detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a mesh type air vent apparatusfor a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 to 4 are views illustrating a state in which a wind direction ofindirect wind is adjusted by forward and backward movement of an airdamper in the mesh type air vent apparatus for a vehicle according tothe first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5 to 7 are views illustrating a state in which a wind direction ofindirect wind flowing through a mesh cover is adjusted by lateraladjustment of a wind direction adjusting wing in the mesh type air ventapparatus for a vehicle according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a mesh type air vent apparatusfor a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention;and

FIGS. 9 to 11 are views illustrating a state in which a wind directionof indirect wind is adjusted by forward and backward movement of an airdamper in the mesh type air vent apparatus for a vehicle according tothe second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods ofachieving the same will be clear with reference to the accompanyingdrawings and the following detailed embodiments. However, the presentinvention is not limited to the embodiments to be disclosed below butmay be implemented in various different forms, the embodiments areprovided in order to fully explain the present invention and fullyexplain the scope of the present invention for those skilled in the art,and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appendedclaims. Meanwhile, the terms used herein are provided to describeembodiments of the present invention and not for purposes of limitation.In the specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise,the singular forms include the plural forms. The terms “comprise” or“comprising” used in the specification specify some stated components,steps, operations and/or elements but do not preclude the presence oraddition of one or more other components, steps, operations and/orelements.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a mesh type air vent apparatusfor a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mesh type air vent apparatus 100 for a vehicleaccording to one embodiment of the present invention is installed insidea dashboard in a vehicle and changes a mode of air introduced from avehicle air conditioner (not shown) to a direct wind mode or indirectwind (windless) mode to guide the air into the vehicle.

In this case, the direct wind mode is a setting implemented to allowwind to directly flow to a user, and the indirect wind (windless) modeis a setting implemented to block wind in advance for a user who wantsto avoid direct wind.

Generally, when the direct wind mode is used, it is absolutely necessaryto avoid lateral wind direction interference due to a monitor (notshown), and when the indirect wind mode is used, since the winddirection interference avoidance is not necessary, a cover is justclosed.

However, a first embodiment of the present invention proposes amechanical mechanism capable of internally adjusting a wind directionfor wind directivity.

To this end, a mesh type air vent apparatus 100 for a vehicle accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention includes a duct 110, amesh cover 120, a wind direction adjusting wing 130, a link part 140,air dampers 150, and a driving actuator 160.

The duct 110 includes an inlet communicating with a vehicle airconditioner, an outlet directed into the vehicle, and an air pathdisposed between the inlet and the outlet.

The mesh cover 120 partially closes the outlet of the duct 110.

The mesh cover 120 includes a mesh plate 121 forming a body and meshholes 122 formed to be spaced apart from each other in the mesh plate121. The mesh hole 122 may communicate with the outlet of the duct 110and may be formed as a plurality of mesh holes 122.

A direction of wind discharged into the vehicle may also be adjustedaccording to a layout of the mesh holes 122. That is, the mesh holes 122may also be formed to be inclined in one direction in the mesh plate 121to guide the direction of the wind. For example, the mesh holes 122 maybe disposed in a circular or diagonal shape in the mesh plate 121.

Upper and lower ends of the mesh cover 120 are disposed to be spacedapart from the outlet of the duct 110, and air introduced from the inletof the duct 110 flows along a garnish 101 extending from the outlet ofthe duct 110 in upward and downward directions and is discharged intothe vehicle.

In this case, since the mesh cover 120 is formed of a material which isthe same as a material of the garnish 101, which is close to the outletof the duct 110, of a board in the vehicle, an exterior design can beimproved, and a Coanda effect can be effectively induced.

The wind direction adjusting wing 130 may be provided in the duct 110and may laterally adjust a wind direction of air discharged through theoutlet of the duct 110.

The air dampers 150 are disposed in the duct 110. The air dampers 150are disposed on upper and lower ends of the wind direction adjustingwing 130 and selectively open or close gaps between the outlet of theduct 110 and the upper and lower ends of the mesh cover 120.

The link part 140 has a structure which moves the air dampers 150 in theduct 110 in forward and backward directions. In this case, the forwarddirection means a direction toward the inlet of the duct 110, and thebackward direction means a direction toward the outlet of the duct 110.

The link part 140 includes an upper arm 141, a lower arm 142, aconnecting rod 143, and link pins 145.

The upper arm 141 is connected to the air damper 150 disposed on theupper end of the wind direction adjusting wing 130.

The lower arm 142 is connected to the air damper 150 disposed on thelower end of the wind direction adjusting wing 130.

The connecting rod 143 is disposed between and connected to the upperarm 141 and the lower arm 142. The connecting rod 143 may be formed tohave a link joint structure divided into a plurality of rods. Forexample, one end of the connecting rod 143 is fixed to the other end ofthe upper arm 141, and the other end of the connecting rod 143 isconnected to one end of the lower arm 142.

In this case, the upper arm 141 and the lower arm 142 may be disposedwith the connecting rod 143 disposed therebetween and may beperpendicular to the connecting rod 143 in different directions. Forexample, the upper arm 141, the connecting rod 143, and the lower arm142 may be connected in a “1” shape.

The link pins 145 connect an end portion of the upper arm 141, an endportion of the lower arm 142, and end portions of the connecting rod 143which are in contact with each other. The link pins 145 may move in linkholes 144 disposed in the upper and lower ends in the forward andbackward directions.

FIGS. 2 to 4 are views illustrating a state in which a wind direction ofindirect wind is adjusted by forward and backward movement of the airdamper in the mesh type air vent apparatus for a vehicle according tothe first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, in the structure of the mesh type air ventapparatus 100 for a vehicle, a phenomenon may occur in which a pressurein a wind region, in which a wind speed is high, decreases and wind iscollected in the region.

A region from the outlet of the duct 110 to an upper end or a lower endof an end portion of the mesh cover 120 has a structural feature inwhich high speed wind is generated to allow low speed windless wind tofollow the high speed wind. In such a structure of the mesh cover 120, aCoanda effect may be generated along a skin surface of the garnish 101.This means that wind direction performance is improved.

When the air damper 150 moves in the duct 110 in the forward andbackward directions, a gap between the outlet of the duct 110 and themesh cover 120 is opened or closed. That is, due to forward and backwardmovement of the air damper 150, in the indirect wind (windless) mode,directivity, which is a disadvantage of the mesh cover 120, may begenerated.

The mesh type air vent apparatus 100 for a vehicle in FIG. 2 has thestructure in which air flowing from the inlet of the duct 110 to theoutlet thereof may flow into the vehicle through the mesh holes 122 ofthe mesh cover 120 and gaps above and under the mesh cover 120. Throughthis, the air discharged through the outlet of the duct 110 is diffused.

In the mesh type air vent apparatus 100 for a vehicle in FIG. 3, sincethe air damper 150 closes a gap between a lower end portion of theoutlet of the duct 110 and a lower end portion of the mesh cover 120,air flowing from the inlet of the duct 110 toward the outlet thereof isdischarged in the upward direction.

In the mesh type air vent apparatus 100 for a vehicle in FIG. 4, sincethe air damper 150 closes a gap between an upper end portion of theoutlet of the duct 110 and an upper end portion of the mesh cover 120,air flowing from the inlet of the duct 110 toward the outlet thereof isdischarged in the downward direction.

FIGS. 5 to 7 are views illustrating a state in which a wind direction ofindirect wind flowing through the mesh cover is adjusted by lateraladjustment of the wind direction adjusting wing in the mesh type airvent apparatus for a vehicle according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, basically, since the mesh cover 120 partiallycloses the outlet of the duct 110, the indirect wind mode, which issimilar to the windless mode, of the mesh type air vent apparatus 100for a vehicle may be a basic mode thereof.

However, when the mesh cover 120 is close to the wind directionadjusting wing 130 and an angle of the wind direction adjusting wing 130is electrically changed by the driving actuator 160 (see FIG. 1) tochange a wind direction, the direct wind mode may be applied through themesh holes 122 of the mesh cover 120.

Of course, since it is problematic for wind to flow to the user throughthe mesh holes 122 in the direct wind mode, as described above, the gapbetween the outlet of the duct 110 and the mesh cover 120 may beadjusted according to driving of the air damper 150 (see FIG. 1) so thatthe wind may flow in a direction desired by the user.

In this case, an important point is a set distance between the meshcover 120 and the wind direction adjusting wing 130. When the setdistance is greater than a set reference distance, air flowing into thevehicle through the mesh cover 120 is not affected by the wind directionadjusting wing 130.

In this case, since the wind direction adjusting wing 130 close to themesh cover 120 affects a wind direction due to the mesh cover 120, whenthe mesh cover 120, to which a leftward wing having a size of about 3 mmis coupled, is applied to a front portion of the wind directionadjusting wing 130, a directivity angle of the wind direction adjustingwing 130 faces a right side, and air flowing into the vehicle throughthe mesh cover 120 may be adjusted to a leftward direction.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a mesh type air vent apparatusfor a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

A mesh type air vent apparatus 200 for a vehicle illustrated in FIG. 8includes a duct 210, a mesh cover 220, a wind direction adjusting wing230, air dampers 250, a driving actuator 260, and a connecting link 270.

Regarding the above configuration, contents overlapping with the firstembodiment will be omitted, and in the second embodiment, structuralfeatures different from those of the first embodiment will be described.

The air damper 250 includes an upper damper 251 positioned at an upperend in the duct 210 and a lower damper 252 positioned at a lower end inthe duct 210.

The connecting link 270 divided by a rotation shaft 273 is positionedbetween the upper damper 251 and the lower damper 252.

The connecting link 270 includes an upper connecting bar 271, a lowerconnecting bar 272, the rotation shaft 273, link holes 274, and linkpins 275.

The upper connecting bar 271 is hinge-connected to the upper damper 251.

The lower connecting bar 272 is hinge-connected to the lower damper 252.

The upper connecting bar 271 and the lower connecting bar 272 arehinge-connected by the rotation shaft 273. The rotation shaft 273 isformed in a structure rotatably fixed to a designated section in theduct 210. In this case, the designated section means a position at whichthe upper connecting bar 271 and the lower connecting bar 272 arerotatable about a position at which the rotation shaft 273 is fixed. Inorder to adjust a wind direction of air, it is advantageous for arotation section of the rotation shaft 273 to be positioned in a drivingradius of the wind direction adjusting wing 230 at an outlet side of theduct 210.

FIGS. 9 to 11 are views illustrating a state in which a wind directionof indirect wind is adjusted by forward and backward movement of the airdamper in the mesh type air vent apparatus for a vehicle according tothe second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 9 to 11, a wind direction adjustment method of themesh type air vent apparatus 200 for a vehicle according to the secondembodiment of the present invention is basically similar to that of thefirst embodiment.

However, as illustrated in FIG. 9, a windless mode is different in thatthe upper damper 251 and the lower damper 252 of the air damper 250completely close gaps between the outlet of the duct 210 and upper andlower ends of the mesh cover 220.

When the connecting link 270 rotates about the rotation shaft 273 andthe upper connecting bar 271 and the lower connecting bar 272 move inforward and backward directions, the upper damper 251 and the lowerdamper 252 operating in conjunction therewith may move, and a directionof air flowing into the vehicle through gaps generated due to themovement and the mesh holes 222 may be determined.

In a mesh type air vent apparatus for a vehicle according to the presentinvention, since a mesh cover is applied to an outlet side of a ductthrough which wind is introduced into a vehicle, the marketability andfunctionality of a product can be improved, and thus an upgradingstrategy of a next generation cockpit design can be established.Particularly, since the mesh type air vent apparatus for a vehicle isformed in a structure capable of inducing a Coanda effect using a skinsurface, wind directivity can be improved.

In addition, in the mesh type air vent apparatus for a vehicle, sinceopening and closing of a gap between an outlet of the duct and the meshcover is adjusted using an air damper operating in conjunction with alink joint structure, indirect wind flows in a direction desired by auser so that needs of manipulating a wind direction of the user can besatisfied.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodimentsand may be variously modified and implemented within a range allowed bythe technical spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mesh type air vent apparatus, comprising: aduct including an inlet and an outlet; a mesh cover including aplurality of mesh holes communicating with the outlet of the duct; awind direction adjusting wing provided in the duct and configured tolaterally adjust a wind direction; air dampers which are disposed onupper and lower ends of the wind direction adjusting wing in the ductand selectively open or close gaps between the outlet of the duct andupper and lower ends of the mesh cover; and a link part which moves theair dampers in the duct in forward and backward directions.
 2. The meshtype air vent apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower ends ofthe mesh cover are spaced apart from the outlet of the duct to allow airintroduced through the inlet of the duct to flow along a garnishextending from the outlet of the duct in upward and downward directionsand to be discharged through the outlet.
 3. The mesh type air ventapparatus of claim 1, wherein the link part includes: an upper armconnected to the air damper disposed on the upper end of the winddirection adjusting wing; a lower arm connected to the air damperdisposed on the lower end of the wind direction adjusting wing; aconnecting rod disposed between and connected to the upper arm and thelower arm; and link pins which connect an end portion of the upper arm,an end portion of the lower arm, and end portions of the connecting rodwhich are in contact with each other.
 4. The mesh type air ventapparatus of claim 3, wherein the connecting rod includes a link jointstructure divided into a plurality of rods.
 5. The mesh type air ventapparatus of claim 3, wherein: one end of the connecting rod is fixed tothe other end of the upper arm; and the other end of the connecting rodis fixed to one end of the lower arm.
 6. The mesh type air ventapparatus of claim 5, wherein the upper arm and the lower arm areprovided with the connecting rod interposed therebetween and areperpendicular to the connecting rod in different directions.
 7. The meshtype air vent apparatus of claim 3, wherein the link pins connected tothe upper arm and the lower arm are movable in link holes disposed inthe upper and lower ends of the wind direction adjusting wing in theforward and backward directions.
 8. The mesh type air vent apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the mesh holes of the mesh cover have a circular ordiagonal shape in a mesh plate of the mesh cover.
 9. The mesh type airvent apparatus of claim 1, configured to be disposed inside a dashboardin a vehicle, and configured to receive air from an air conditioner ofthe vehicle through the inlet and to discharge the air into the vehiclethrough the outlet.
 10. The mesh type air vent apparatus of claim 9,wherein the mesh cover includes a material the same as a material of agarnish of a board, which is adjacent to the outlet of the duct, in thevehicle.
 11. A mesh type air vent apparatus, comprising: a ductincluding an inlet and an outlet; a mesh cover communicating with theoutlet of the duct; a wind direction adjusting wing provided in the ductand configured to laterally adjust a wind direction; air dampersdisposed on upper and lower ends of the wind direction adjusting wing inthe duct; and a driving actuator configured to move the air dampers inthe duct in forward and backward directions, wherein the air dampers aredisposed above and under the wind direction adjusting wing andselectively open or close gaps between the duct and the mesh cover toguide air introduced through the inlet of the duct in one directiontoward an upper or lower end of the mesh cover.
 12. The mesh type airvent apparatus of claim 11, wherein the air damper includes: an upperdamper positioned at an upper end in the duct; and a lower damperpositioned at a lower end in the duct, wherein a connecting link dividedby a rotation shaft is provided between the upper damper and the lowerdamper.
 13. The mesh type air vent apparatus of claim 12, wherein theconnecting link includes: an upper connecting bar hinge connected to theupper damper; and a lower connecting bar hinge connected to the lowerdamper, wherein the upper connecting bar and the lower connecting barare hinge-connected by the rotation shaft, and the rotation shaft isrotatably fixed to a section in the duct.
 14. The mesh type air ventapparatus of claim 11, wherein the inlet is configured to communicatewith an air conditioner of a vehicle and the outlet is configured todirect the air into the vehicle.